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Files Day in Second Life

In a recent post I joined the trendy idea that LL charging for excess inventory was worthwhile, if it helped them manage the changing business model required for keeping Second Life viable. Apparently objections have arisen that seem compelling at first. I would agree that for people who are creating and selling products, any limitation to their inventory or added cost could be the last straw. Our inventories, as suggested in the article, are definitely reasons for which we feel obliged to stay in SL, to be sure, but I think the matter goes deeper than that.

I would suggest that the inventory surcharge only be applicable to people with free accounts. Even those of us who have been here for years and built up a fair-sized inventory must admit that a great deal of it is never used! Add to the fact that if one did searches on variations of Open Box scripts and such, duplicate landmarks, and any number of notecards announcing last years Hair Fair, one could easily get his or her inventory to within striking distance of a reasonable inventory cap.

Here’s a Nyte n Day Grace outfit in Jade that I got as a present. Other than sentimental value, why keep it? We throw out clothing in first life—granted, virtual clothes don’t wear out but mayb they do wear out their welcome. The Blooberry Hope hair sure has!

Personally, I have a vast number of clothing items and other paraphernalia that I will never ever wear again. I am certain that every one of us is that way. Let’s consider what the argument being put forth is really saying: if our inventories are what binds us to SL, what if we were given the opportunity to leave and take it all with us. Certainly, the lazy side of me would be willing to just chuck it all together and depart. But like any move from one home to another in first life, I think we—unless you are a hopeless hoarder—would take stock of what’s worth taking and what’s worth leaving behind, and do some winnowing.

I’ve pondered my relatively modest inventory—I’ve mentioned my totals at various times and been greeted with “meh!”—and asked myself “why am I not content with wearing the same outfit/hair/skin/etc.?” Why am I constantly buying new things? And I am not fooling myself that I am doing this because I can write about it in this blog. That’s utter nonsense! There was a time when I was given a handsome honorarium for contributing to a certain blog and I could justify the expenditures, but that time is long past and I continue to buy things like a drunken sailor. That is at least part of why I continue to show up in Second Life. So, yes, if I were given the choice of a monthly fee for retaining a certain amount of items in my inventory, 30% of which could very well have been free as gifts or hunt items, or dropping items, which would have to include items for which I did pay, I think I’d be glad to start with that 30% and go from there. Not that I begrudge the Lindens an opportunity the cash as much as I would still be opening up space on their servers and lessening their expenses.

Here’s one of my all-time favorite outfits from four years ago, the Pearl collection from Kaosome. Great combinations here, the jacket is transparent and has a tunic style shirt layer as well as this underwear layer at left.. The Jennifer hairstyle from CS on the left and right hand pix is still worth hanging on to, but I know there are hair packages that I’ve never worn and will never wear … why is it so hard to let ‘em go?

This is a viable solution, folks, as long as the inventory cap is reasonable and doesn’t extend to people who already pay premiums. Yes, a majority of long-time, free-account folks do contribute to the SL economy in our purchases, but I also don’t see an inventory cap as putting a noticeable chill on our continued consumption. Perhaps I would think twice about a purchase in terms of what gets tossed to make room, but if I haven’t worn some outfit in three years, it’s time to clean out the closet anyway.

I could see people getting together for what amounts to what we in first life call File Day at work. A time to clear out unnecessary files. People can take screen shots of their inventory totals and have a contest as to whom can delete the bigger percentage of items.

I was writing in Serendipidy’s blog a few weeks ago how SL population numbers really shouldn’t be compared to social network numbers. It’s still more of a game than a social network. And yet it’s not completely comparable to World of Warcraft and such because most of us play for free. That so many of us are still playing is a testament to the nature of the game, which is a mix of many things: business, design, art, sex, dolls (dress up), and roleplaying, among other things. If WoW didn’t do some kind of major upgrade after 18 months or so, very likely people would move on because it has its limitations in playability, but SL is limited more by one’s imagination than the tools, despite their age and lack of sophistication when compared with the tools used in WoW. (However, let’s keep in mind who gets to use those tools!)

In her response to my comment, Seren gave me an epiphany that I would like to share and conclude this little meditation with:

“However, just as in the real world, priorities change, interests wax and wane and focus alters over time – personally, i think this is healthy and a necessary part of life, and by association, any inter-related virtual life, or lives, that we may choose to pursue.”

Of course, one of the most compelling reasons most of us stay in SL has nothing to do with our inventories save for the Calling Cards that represent the people we know. When we grow really close to our virtual friends, there’s a reality that we don’t often consider very deeply in first life: we are not long for this virtual world. We will inevitably be called away from SL and all-too-often our friends have faded away without any sense of closure. We learn to live with this. It’s a valuable lesson to carry into our first lives because the rules are very nearly the same.

When I consider how much money I’ve spent in this virtual world, perhaps the price of these real life lessons is worth every penny.

You can’t take it with you.